What does it take to be a federal judge....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 to political connections. One of my former colleagues was just nominated and she had terrible work ethic and was well known for being unable to drive cases to completion. But she is incredibly well connected so no one was all that surprised when she got it. As far as it being a great job, I think it would be amazing but of course you don’t do it for the money. Ideally you’ve made a nice chunk in private practice before exiting, which is what the judge I clerked for did.

You can adjunct teach and give speeches for good money. Not big law money, but you can also work as few hours as you choose

Uh, this part is not really true. While federal judges don't work biglaw hours, most of them are also not doing a part time schedule (setting aside senior judges). Dockets are busy and in the very large district I practiced in as a litigator, most judges had calendar every day. Of course there are some bad apples who don't take the job seriously, but to suggest they can work as little as they choose is not broadly accurate.

Their salaries are protected by the constitution. They choose to work the hours they do, but if a judge decided they were fine with 40 hours a week, there is nothing that anyone could do about it

LOL 40 hours a week is a standard workweek - so I'm not sure that's "as few hours as they choose." In any event, my point was that the reality is that most federal judges are not working 20 hour or less weeks. Certainly not the two judges I clerked for, or most of the hundreds of federal judges I've appeared in front of during my career, based on how well they knew the record and the fact that during trial, we were all doing 10+ hour days.

The ASSociation of Federal Judges hereby duly notes your exemplary butt kissing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 to political connections. One of my former colleagues was just nominated and she had terrible work ethic and was well known for being unable to drive cases to completion. But she is incredibly well connected so no one was all that surprised when she got it. As far as it being a great job, I think it would be amazing but of course you don’t do it for the money. Ideally you’ve made a nice chunk in private practice before exiting, which is what the judge I clerked for did.

You can adjunct teach and give speeches for good money. Not big law money, but you can also work as few hours as you choose

Uh, this part is not really true. While federal judges don't work biglaw hours, most of them are also not doing a part time schedule (setting aside senior judges). Dockets are busy and in the very large district I practiced in as a litigator, most judges had calendar every day. Of course there are some bad apples who don't take the job seriously, but to suggest they can work as little as they choose is not broadly accurate.

Their salaries are protected by the constitution. They choose to work the hours they do, but if a judge decided they were fine with 40 hours a week, there is nothing that anyone could do about it

LOL 40 hours a week is a standard workweek - so I'm not sure that's "as few hours as they choose." In any event, my point was that the reality is that most federal judges are not working 20 hour or less weeks. Certainly not the two judges I clerked for, or most of the hundreds of federal judges I've appeared in front of during my career, based on how well they knew the record and the fact that during trial, we were all doing 10+ hour days.

The ASSociation of Federal Judges hereby duly notes your exemplary butt kissing.

You obviously haven't ever litigated in federal court. Are you even a lawyer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1 to political connections. One of my former colleagues was just nominated and she had terrible work ethic and was well known for being unable to drive cases to completion. But she is incredibly well connected so no one was all that surprised when she got it. As far as it being a great job, I think it would be amazing but of course you don’t do it for the money. Ideally you’ve made a nice chunk in private practice before exiting, which is what the judge I clerked for did. [/quote
Oh god I wonder if it’s who I also know who got put up. Is her former firm vault ranked in the 60s?

[Anonymous]

Political connections. For district court judicial nominations, each state’s two senators basically control the process for their state, no matter who occupies the White House. For DC judicial positions, the White House and Senate Majority Leader (assuming they’re the same party) decide.

It’s a prestigious job but not cushy at all. Judges typically work well more than a 40 hour week for less pay than a biglaw first year. And most of their cases suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Political connections. For district court judicial nominations, each state’s two senators basically control the process for their state, no matter who occupies the White House. For DC judicial positions, the White House and Senate Majority Leader (assuming they’re the same party) decide.

It’s a prestigious job but not cushy at all. Judges typically work well more than a 40 hour week for less pay than a biglaw first year. And most of their cases suck.

To me, it's the most prestigious in law, that prestige increasing within the ranks all the way to SCOTUS.

And more than a few of the federal judges I've encountered never held a PP job.

[Anonymous]

Beer. Lots and lots of beer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not in the legal field.

This seems like fascinating work.

I'm sure there's not a single path, but what would be representative?

Really?

I hate making tough decisions especially ones that alter people's lives forever. And there are a lot of heinous crimes out there. Details of sex trafficking, murder, child porn, - blech. And the white collar crimes can be complicated to discern.
Even with a jury to make the decision, it would be hard for me to decide on the severity and duration of punishment if applicable.
No thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 to political connections. One of my former colleagues was just nominated and she had terrible work ethic and was well known for being unable to drive cases to completion. But she is incredibly well connected so no one was all that surprised when she got it. As far as it being a great job, I think it would be amazing but of course you don’t do it for the money. Ideally you’ve made a nice chunk in private practice before exiting, which is what the judge I clerked for did.

You can adjunct teach and give speeches for good money. Not big law money, but you can also work as few hours as you choose

Uh, this part is not really true. While federal judges don't work biglaw hours, most of them are also not doing a part time schedule (setting aside senior judges). Dockets are busy and in the very large district I practiced in as a litigator, most judges had calendar every day. Of course there are some bad apples who don't take the job seriously, but to suggest they can work as little as they choose is not broadly accurate.

Their salaries are protected by the constitution. They choose to work the hours they do, but if a judge decided they were fine with 40 hours a week, there is nothing that anyone could do about it

LOL 40 hours a week is a standard workweek - so I'm not sure that's "as few hours as they choose." In any event, my point was that the reality is that most federal judges are not working 20 hour or less weeks. Certainly not the two judges I clerked for, or most of the hundreds of federal judges I've appeared in front of during my career, based on how well they knew the record and the fact that during trial, we were all doing 10+ hour days.

The ASSociation of Federal Judges hereby duly notes your exemplary butt kissing.

You obviously haven't ever litigated in federal court. Are you even a lawyer?

Your butt kissing has already been duly noted and now you want recognition as the only one with any legal experience in federal court ? You really should learn to quit while you are ahead. We get it. You had two federal judicial clerkships & you have appeared before "hundreds of federal judges" (not sure that I believe the hundreds number, but you're the expert.

I'm the OP of the comment about the 40 hour work week and not the person who asked if you are even a lawyer, but it's a valid question. I have no idea why you think me pointing out the fact the most federal judges work pretty hard (which was repeated by another poster on this thread) makes me a butt kisser. I'm not a federal judge nor do I worship them, your statement was simply inaccurate and I called you on it. And yes, I have appeared before hundreds of federal judges over the course of my 20+ year career, 15 of them at DOJ. SMDH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beer. Lots and lots of beer.

Hi Brett!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Political connections. For district court judicial nominations, each state’s two senators basically control the process for their state, no matter who occupies the White House. For DC judicial positions, the White House and Senate Majority Leader (assuming they’re the same party) decide.

It’s a prestigious job but not cushy at all. Judges typically work well more than a 40 hour week for less pay than a biglaw first year. And most of their cases suck.

This is not quite right. The senior Senator of the party of the President makes reccomendations that are often followed. If you are a Senator not in the President's party you do not get a say unless you have some arrangement with the other Senator. Junior Senator has no say unless there is a deal with the senior. If no Senator of the president's party -- there are lots of variations. But Nomination still comes from the White House. They do not accept all the names sent and White House puts their own names in from time to time.